I've been avoiding talking about this show for a while because, well, I'm not too sure what to make of it. On one hand, it's a coming of age series that is shown as a teen drama. But on the other hand, it has a bit more to it such as the supernatural, a bit of horror and in later seasons, some musical numbers. It's also one of those shows where everyone has their dark secrets and no one is truly innocent. It's become popular due to the attractiveness of the young cast and how it falls into pop culture due to the show being based on characters from the Archie comics. But takes on a darker tone compared to the sweetly innocent comics (well maybe except for
Afterlife with Archie and the Archie Horror series). It's also sort of set in the same universe as
The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina, which I have previously reviewed. So let's take a look at this strange, but good series that will soon see its end with the upcoming final season:
Season 1
The first season of the show, sees the inhabitants come to terms with the tragic drowning and loss of one Jason Blossom (played by Trevor Stines) who was believed to have drowned during the summer and just before school started. Archie Andrews (played by KJ Apa) discovers his love and passion for music and expresses these feelings to next door neighbour and best friend Betty Cooper (played by Lili Reinhart) who holds onto the secret that she is madly in love with him. We also learn how Archie held onto a secret sexual relationship with his music teacher Ms Grundy (played by Sarah Habel) over the summer, all while Veronica Lodge (played by Camila Mendes) and her family arrive in town. Secrets will be revealed and the truth about Jason's death will come out, all while narrated by Archie's other best friend, Jughead Jones (played by Cole Sprouse). The first season, despite being the shortest by comparison, is a good start to the show as it gives us a fresh new take on the adventures of Archie that is dark, mysterious and in some ways, fun. There is an issue with representation among the cast with the whole equality and acceptance stuff, but apart from that, it's a good start that will get plenty of you hooked on from the start. Especially with its attractive young cast and some of the older cast too, I would imagine. 9/10
Season 2
Following the closure of the mystery behind Jason Blossom's death, a shooting occurs at Riverdale's local diner called Pops. Archie sets out to figure out what went down there when one of the people there at the time happens to be his dad Fred (played by Luke Perry). Meanwhile, Veronica's dad Hiram (played by Mark Consuelos) arrives earlier than expected and begins his reign of trouble for our main heroes. Jughead gets himself caught in the middle of a gang war with the local biker gangs of which his father FP (played by Skeet Ulrich) is associated with and Betty takes on a criminal that she may have personal ties to. The first of many seasons to have a musical episode (this one being called Carrie: The Musical) and I actually like this one more than the first season. It continues its dark roots by claiming that all that happened in the first season is just the start of what is to come. I like the new characters as well as the development of the ones we met in the first season. So yeah, a pretty enjoyable second season. 9/10
Season 3
The last season ends with Archie being arrested for a murder he did not commit. With this season starting off with him in his trial and then spending a fair bit of time in prison. Outside of prison, a new menace, calling itself the Gargoyle King, emerges following a renewed interest in the role-playing game Gryphons and Gargoyles, who is out to claim sacrificial victims. All while a cult called the Farm starts making the inhabitants of Riverdale believe that they have been "healed" just as Hiram continues his criminal takeover of Riverdale. A pretty packed season with a lot of mysteries to solve, enemies to take on, and without a single character being safe from kicking the bucket. Plus, some more LGBTQ+ representation is seen in this season, and we all ask the big question of will our four main characters make it to Senior Year in one piece. Really can't say any more than that because of well spoilers, but we have another musical episode which is something and an episode clearly inspired by
The Breakfast Club. I should also point out that this would be Luke Perry's last season, as he passed away from a stroke before production of the fourth season occurred. RIP good sir. 7/10
Season 4
With Fred Andrews having passed away, Archie sets out to continue his legacy by mentoring youths at Riverdale's community centre with help from his friends Reggie (played by Ross Butler in season 1 and Charles Melton from season 2 onwards) and Munroe Moore (played by Eli Goree). Meanwhile, Betty starts training to work in the FBI, Veronica begins a season long battle with Hiram over her own maple rum business and Jughead enrols at a new school where he gets himself caught in the middle of a mystery concerning his grandfather who created a series of detective novels. As that is all happening, both Cheryl (sister to Jason and played by Madelaine Petsch) begins fighting her inner demons with help from her girlfriend Toni (played by Vanessa Morgan) as she slowly puts to rest all that went down with Jason. While Kevin Keller (played by Casey Cott) is at odds with the new principal of Riverdale High, especially when he wants to do a variety show with songs from "Hedwig and the Angry Inch". Videotapes also start appearing too. This season was affected by two things; the passing of Luke Perry and Covid, which resulted in a 19 episode season. Despite this, we got a Halloween episode, a battle of the bands episode, an in-universe crossover with
Katy Keene and another musical episode. So despite being slightly shorter, at least there was a lot happening as always. Not quite like other seasons though, when there has been a very clear main antagonist and other villains within, but that's fine. 8/10
Season 5
The first few episodes of this season, see the main young cast finally ending their school years with a prom, a graduation and then going outside of Riverdale to do things. A seven-year gap occurs, and we learn that Hiram has succeeded in taking control of Riverdale, which prompts Archie to call upon old friends to help reclaim his hometown. In the process, Betty sets up Riverdale's FBI office, Veronica gets some businesses going much to the chagrin of her father, Archie heads up the fire department, Cheryl forms a ministry, Jughead finds a new person to love in the form of Tabitha Tate (played by Erinn Westbrook) the granddaughter of Pops owner, Pops Tate (played by Alvin Sanders). All this and more in their attempts to finally be rid of Hiram. This season goes to great lengths to show how mature and grown up the young cast have become throughout the show. Just as they all become young adults, facing all those things young adults face in life. It's nice to see a season with this maturity in its characters, and also nice to have a couple of new faces too. A good fifth season, I'd say. 9/10
Season 6
The sixth season starts off with a five episode story arc in an alternative universe where the town is called Rivervale. Archie and Betty have started a romance, but find themselves in a world where everything that happened previously is all but a dream. They and the other characters experience hauntings, revelations in their families' history, and an appearance from a certain teenage witch just as the 100th episode has Jughead figure it all out. Back in the main universe, a hit on Hiram takes place following the bombing of Archie and Betty's house, while Veronica and Reggie try to get a casino going in the town. As all that is happening, each of the main characters begin to gain superpowers just as a new threat called Percival Pickens (played by Chris O'Shea) enters town to become the new Hiram, but with a few tricks up his sleeve. Oh, and Cheryl gets possessed by one of her ancestors at one point too. This season is possibly the most interesting in that it starts in the most unusual way with a miniseries that ends in the show's 100th episode. Despite this, the miniseires and this season overall is good. Gets a bit silly and over the top here and there, but still going strong just as we reach what has been described as the final season. Who knows what will await us in that. 9/10
Yeah it can be a bit complicated, over-the-top and inconsistent at times. But this as a darker take on the Archie comics is pretty good. Not going to say it's for everyone because well it's not. But it does well to be what it's trying to be, and I look forward to seeing how it all ends and where this attractive cast will go after it all ends. 8/10
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